Gas regulator



9, 1937- s. w. E. ANDERSSON 2,069,308

GAS REGULATOR Filed June 14, 1934 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS REGULATOR Application June 14, 1934, Serial No. 730,585

1 Claim.

My invention relates to gas pressure regulators for reducing the pressure of gas flowing to a burner or the like and for normally maintaining the pressure supply to the burner at a 5 constant value.

An object of my invention is to provide a regulator which is compact and of simple construction, and which includes means for preventing the escape of gas to the atmosphere in the event 10 that the diaphragm of the regulator should develop a leak, and which, upon rupture of the diaphragm, will effectively prevent further leakage.

Further objects and advantages will be ap- 15 parent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, which drawing is a vertical sectional view of a preferred form of regulator embodying my 20 invention.

Referring to the drawing, the regulator comprises an upper casing member I and a lower casing member II between which is disposed a rigid transverse member or partition l2 which 25 rests in a recessed portion [3 of casing member ll. Partition I2 is provided with an orifice l4. Clamped between the partition I2 and the casing member II is a flexible diaphragm l6 forming one side of a chamber l5. The parts are so 30 shaped that there is a space I! between the rigid partition l2 and diaphragm I6. The casing members I0 and II, the partition l2, and gaskets l8 and H! are held firmly together by means of screws 20. The gaskets l8 and I9 provide a tight 35 seal against the escape of gas around the edges of the diaphragm.

Lower casing member H is provided with a gas inlet port 2|, an interior space 23, and a gas outlet port 26. Gas flows through inlet port 2| 40 and valve opening or orifice 22 into chamber l and thence to the outlet 26. In the space 23 between inlet port 2i and orifice 22 is a gas filter 24. A plug 25 provides access to the filter for cleaning or removal thereof.

45 Centrally attached to diaphragm I6 is a valve stem 21, one end of which extends downwardly within orifice 22 and is formed with or has attached thereto a valve member 28 which is adapted to seat against the lower edge of orifice 50 22. The other end of the valve stem extends upwardly through orifice M in rigid member l2 and is provided with a valve member 29 positioned in a chamber 36, which valve member 29 is adapted to seat against the upper edge of orifice I4. A

55 disc 3' is secured to stem 21 as by being clamped between valve member 29 and a nut 38. The outer edge of disc 3| is flanged to form a groove 32 in which rests one end of a regulating spring 33 which acts against the pressure of gas in chamber l5 to balance said pressure and to main- 5 tain valve 28 normally open, in a position depending upon the pressure of gas in chamber l5. A screw 34 having a small extrusion at its lower end which fits into the opposite end of the conical spring 33 serves to regulate the tension of spring 33. A vent hole 36 extends centrally through the adjustment screw 34.

In operation, gas enters inlet port 2| and passes through the filter 24 and through throttling orifice 22 into chamber l5. Thence the gas passes through outlet 26 to the point of use. If the gas pressure in chamber 23 should rise there will be a corresponding rise of pressure acting against diaphragm l6. The increase in pressure causes upward movement of the valve stem, as shown, and valve member 28 is moved upwardly to restrict flow through orifice 22, as a result of which less gas is supplied to chamber l5 and the pressure decreases, due to which the spring 33 moves the valve member 28 toward its original position. Conversely if the pressure drops in chamber [5 the greater force of the spring 33 with relation to the pressure acting against the diaphragm IE will increase the valve opening or supply of gas to chamber l5. Thus the device normally acts to maintain a constant pressure of gas in chamber I5, and consequently a constant pressure of gas supplied to the point of use through outlet 26. The pressure of the gas supplied can be regulated by turning the adjusting screw 34. Thus the valve normally acts as an ordinary reducing valve. The pressure in chamber I1 is that of the atmosphere, valve 29 being normally open. The pressure of atmosphere is imposed on the upper side of the dia- 40 phragm through the vent opening 36. Should the diaphragm rupture, gas will pass through the diaphragm into chamber [1. This will equalize the pressure on the two sides of the diaphragm since the vent hole 36 is small. Consequently, the force opposing the spring 33 is substantially neutralized and the spring 33 acts downwardly on the valve stem 21. This serves to move the valve stem and attached parts downwardly and to close the orifice l4 and open orifice 22 wide. The closing of orifice l4 prevents the further escape of the gas and the regulator is now transformed into a fully open unadjustable valve. The gas will now flow through the regulator at full line pressure and the increase in size of cation of the ruptured diaphragm so that the user will be told that the diaphragm should be replaced.

What I claim is:

A gas pressure regulator including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a throttle valve for controlling flow of gas between said ports,'a flexible diaphragm subjected on one side to pressure'of gas which has passed-said throttle valve and connected to operate said valve, a partition in said casing having a passage therethrough and forming a chamber on the other side flame or increase in flow will serve as an indiof said diaphragm, a second valve for controlling said passage and operatively connected to said i diaphragm, a screw plug in said casing having a passage therethrough providing communicationdiaphragm by the gas, the tension of said spring 10 being adjustable by turning said screw plug.

svEN w. rz. mnnasson. 

